Page 11 of Angel

“Just the usual shit when we recruit a member. Nothing to lead us to a reason she wants to talk.”

Ghost speaks up. “Then it must be something new, a lead perhaps.”

“Possibly.”

I scan the room and my voice is low, “I’ll take the meeting and report back. It will help replace the boredom of the evening I’ve endured. I hate fucking galas with a passion.”

“Then don’t go.” Zac remarks.

“Tell Gabriel that.”

I remind him of who really runs this show, and he nods sympathetically.

“Point taken.”

“Are we in agreement?”

They nod, all leaning forward simultaneously, and as we place our palms on the wooden arrows, the decision is made.

All for one. No reservations.

It’s how we do business.

We all agree or none agree.

It’s a ritual I invented as a joke that has stuck. The Wild Angels is more than just an MC club riding around town. It’s an institution for justice. Tough justice and is the single most important thing in my life I am proud of.

CHAPTER 3

SOPHIE

It was almost tempting to take Giovanni up on his offer after the gala. It can get kind of lonely returning to my bed every night, alone. I’m not averse to the charms of an attractive man, and yet there is only one man I’m intrigued to meet. I wonder if he will arrange the meeting himself or send one of the others.

As soon as I returned home, I showered and changed into a satin slip, my preferred choice of nightwear.

My usual nightcap of a shot of bourbon is cradled in my hand as I stare out of the window, the moon illuminating the garden that is my pride and joy.

I love nature, and the view from the front of the house is pure horticulture perfection. The view from the back is the wild, stormy ocean, another love of mine.

I enjoy the best of both worlds, and I alternate the view according to my wishes.

Tonight I am scanning the front of the house for a late-night visitor. At least I hope I get one.

In all the months I’ve been an honorary Wild Angel, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting the man himself. At least I don’t think so.

I thought he recruited me, but the more I got involved with the club, I realized they are all called Angel. The first one was a night I will never forget.

It wasn’t unlike this one. I attended a film premiere, one of many I starred in. When I arrived, I was ushered onto the red carpet, my image frozen in the lenses of the many cameras aimed in my direction.

I answered the calls to turn and to pose, always calling me, always taking my photograph.

Then a man appeared out of the crowd, shouting my name. Dodging the security as he ran toward me at speed.

I froze. I didn’t know what to do, and as I turned, another man tackled him to the ground. The knife the man held, wrestled from his grasp.

I stared in shock for a split second before security ushered me inside. I remember seeing a flash of leather and a skeleton mask.

The fact that it was Halloween didn’t make the costume unusual. Many of the crowd wore costumes; the movie was entitled ‘Kissing Halloween’, after all.